Tuna Potato Salad (Creamy Tuna and Potato Salad)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 38 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Ingredients
- 8
About this dish
Tuna potato salad combines mashed potatoes with drained canned tuna, salt-rested cucumber, carrot, and onion, using mayonnaise and whole grain mustard as the dressing.
Read more
Wash 500 g potatoes with the skins on and boil them in enough water to cover. Drain them when a chopstick or skewer enters without firm resistance. Peel and mash the potatoes while they are still hot, stopping while small pieces remain instead of working them into a completely smooth paste. Finely chop 100 g cucumber, 70 g carrot, and 60 g onion. Distribute 0.5 tsp salt over the vegetables and let them stand for 5 minutes, then squeeze them by hand or in a clean cloth until they no longer drip. Drain 150 g canned tuna in a strainer until excess oil stops falling. Add the vegetables and tuna to the mashed potatoes and fold lightly to separate the tuna. Add 5 tbsp mayonnaise and 1 tbsp whole grain mustard, then continue folding from the bottom with a spatula. Avoid repeated pressing, which would mash the remaining potato pieces. Refrigerate the finished salad for 20 minutes and serve it cold. Thoroughly removing the vegetable liquid and tuna oil is what allows the measured mayonnaise to coat the mixture without a loose layer collecting in the bowl.
Ingredients
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Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Control
Wash 500 g potatoes with the skins on and place them in a pot with enough water to cover.
Boil over medium heat until a chopstick or skewer slides through easily, then drain before they cool.
- 2Season
Peel the potatoes while they are still hot and mash them in a large bowl.
Stop before they become completely smooth, leaving small chunks so the salad stays creamy without turning sticky.
- 3Season
Finely chop 100 g cucumber, 70 g carrot, and 60 g onion.
Sprinkle the 1/2 teaspoon salt evenly over the vegetables, toss lightly, and let them stand for 5 minutes to draw out moisture.
- 4Season
Squeeze the salted vegetables firmly by hand or in a clean cloth until they no longer drip.
Put 150 g canned tuna in a strainer and drain until excess oil stops falling.
- 5Prep
Add the squeezed vegetables and drained tuna to the mashed potatoes, breaking up the tuna lightly as you fold.
Add 5 tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard on top before mixing fully.
- 6Finish
Fold from the bottom upward with a spatula so the remaining potato pieces are not overworked.
Chill the salad for 20 minutes and serve it cold.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Boil 500 g potatoes until tender and mash them while leaving small pieces
- Finish cue
- Fold from the bottom upward with a spatula so the remaining potato pieces are not overworked.
- Avoid this
- Squeeze vegetable moisture well to avoid a watery salad.
- Substitution
- Peel and mash the potatoes while they are still hot, stopping while small pieces remain instead of working them into a completely smooth paste.
- Storage and reheating
- Refrigerate the finished salad for 20 minutes and serve it cold.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.
This recipe
38min, 8 ingredients
Category median
25min, 8 ingredients
Based on 189 recipes
Official cooking and safety guidance
-
Produce preparation
Wash produce under running water before cutting or peeling it. Do not use soap or household detergent.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely
-
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours and use them within 3 to 4 days. Reheat the center to 74°C.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
Sources checked 2026-08-03
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